2023 Cycling fatalities

[Bunged Knee]

1st death in new year.

Cyclist killed in alleged Bangholme hit-run, man arrested

https://www.news.com.au/national/victor ... c4963ee3c1

It was disappointing that cyclist had died this morning by hit & run driver who had handed himself to police later to be arrested.

[antigee]

from TheAge

"A man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death following an alleged hit-and-run which resulted in the death of a cyclist in Melbourne’s south-east on Friday morning."....

"On Friday night, Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives charged a 37-year-old Cranbourne East man with multiple offences, including dangerous driving causing death and failing to render assistance."....

"Police do not believe the driver was speeding at the time of the incident, with the 37-year-old man likely the only person in the vehicle at the time"......

"Victoria Police seized a Toyota Estima minivan from a Cranbourne property on Friday. The vehicle’s front windscreen was heavily damaged and a side mirror was broken.

Bailed to appear in court end of May

https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 5ccgx.html

RIP meanwhile the Police are suggesting that there is protective clothing that will help in a full speed rear end collision:

....Victoria Police detective Sergeant Richard Wood speaks to the media this morning. (9News)
Wood said it was unclear what level of protective clothing the cyclist was wearing or where he was riding to.
"I think it's important that people drive to the conditions," he warned drivers.
"If it's dark, extra care and attention needs to be paid.
"And again, if you are involved in a collision, you need to stop, get out, render assistance."....

can't disagree with the last message and to be less critical I assume means they haven't established if the cyclist had lights and/or reflective clothing yet

https://www.9news.com.au/national/cycli ... ca74202cff

[jasonc]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-16/ ... /101857632

A former top police officer in South Australia and the Northern Territory has been identified as the victim of a bicycle crash in Adelaide's east yesterday.
Paul White, 72, was an assistant commissioner with South Australian police before serving as the Northern Territory police commissioner for eight years, until 2009.

He also served as South Australia's liquor and gambling commissioner.

South Australian police said Mr White, who lived in Glenunga, died at the scene after crashing at the intersection of Portrush Road and Myrona Avenue in Glen Osmond about 10:25am on Sunday.

A 61-year-old driver from St Georges is assisting police with their investigation.

Northern Territory police Acting Commissioner Murray Smalpage said: "We extend our deepest sympathy to Mr White's family and friends during this difficult time."

South Australia police Senior Constable Matt Brown said: "Our condolences go to his family and friends and all that he served with, not just here, but also in the Northern Territory."

Five people have died on South Australia's roads so far this year, three of them car drivers and one a motorcyclist.

[MichaelB]

^^ Saw it on the news yesterday.

Have ridden down there a few times, and it's not something I do often. Given the details provided, it seems like a car pulled out on him from a side street, but the bike doesn't appear damaged, so maybe fell avoiding the collision ?

Condolences to the family and friends

[Mububban]

The cynic in me wonders if the only way meaningful attitude change re enforcement and infrastructure etc will occur is if politicians and/or police start losing their own mates who also happen to ride bikes

[trailgumby]

The cynic in me wonders if the only way meaningful attitude change re enforcement and infrastructure etc will occur is if politicians and/or police start losing their own mates who also happen to ride bikes

It's not cynicism, it's human nature. Treating others well requires empathy - being able to put yourself in your neighbour's shoes. Being a police officer is tough on empathy as you engage with your clientelle during what is for most people the worst times of their lives. It gets burned out of you - if you don't cultivate a professional indifference you are quickly overwhelmed and don't last long in the profession, or at least don't stay mentally healthy for very long. I've noticed the same with nurses.

The "Halt die KIndermoord" (Stop the Child Murder) campaign in Holland was instrumental in the success of the people-centred urbanism movement because it made it relatable to everyone, and headed off the usual victim-blaming from the start because it is unrealistic to expect children not to make mistakes.

[outnabike]

Empathy is often a hard element to retain when it comes to a long term pressure. It is also seen from a different point of view by the folks either receiving it or not receiving it,and whether or not it's a feeling or a reality.

I was in a ward once in Hospital and the head nurse came and and announced.... "Who was it wanted the bed pan".... Strangely all six of us declined the offer....

Funny subject the old empathy....

[antigee]

On Jan 28th TheAge reported the death of a cyclist in NE Victoria:

".....Separately, police have charged a young driver after the death of a cyclist in a collision at Lilliput in Victoria’s north-east on Friday.

Emergency services were called to Rutherglen-Springhurst Road about 8.20am, where a 59-year-old man from Rutherglen on a bicycle was hit by a car and died at the scene.

The alleged driver of the car, a 22-year-old Rutherglen woman, stopped following the incident and was interviewed by police.

On Saturday, she was charged with dangerous driving causing death. She has been bailed to appear at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on January 31.

RIP

https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... 5cg6m.html

[P!N20]

Cyclist killed in West Melbourne: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-02/ ... /101922614

[AdelaidePeter]

Cyclist killed in West Melbourne: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-02/ ... /101922614

Sadly and almost predictably, he was killed by a left-turning truck.

"Death of 22-year-old cyclist in West Melbourne prompts calls for left turn ban at intersection" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-07/ ... /101937556

[Cyclophiliac]

Cyclist killed in West Melbourne: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-02/ ... /101922614

Sadly and almost predictably, he was killed by a left-turning truck.

"Death of 22-year-old cyclist in West Melbourne prompts calls for left turn ban at intersection" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-07/ ... /101937556

Instead of a left-turn ban, the shared path should just be updated so it's practical to use. Any decent shared path would be uninterrupted by roads, i.e. go below/above them. A good Melbourne example of this is the Koonung Creek Trail, which has almost no level crossings with roads.

[redsonic]

A very brief mention of a cyclist who fell from his bike at Happy Valley, SA, dying this week.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-10/ ... /101955816

A 79-year-old woman from the ACT who was driving a car that collided with a truck at Two Wells, and a 49-year-old Trott Park man who fell from his bicycle at Happy Valley, have also died in the past week.

[biker jk]

Cyclist dies in collision near Warrnambool, south-west Victoria.

A cyclist has died in a fatal collision on a rural road near Warrnambool in south-west Victoria.

Police say a cyclist and a car collided near the intersection of Southern Cross Road and Tower Hill Road at Illowa around 7.15am on Friday.

The cyclist died at the scene.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

The driver of the car stopped immediately at the scene after the crash.

They have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

On average, a cyclist dies every nine days on Australian roads.

Police are seeking witnesses to the collision.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-10/ ... /101956288

[baabaa]

Iconic Goulburn cyclist dies in weekend collision
20 February 2023 | John Thistleton
https://aboutregional.com.au/tragic-end ... _source=ar

The tragic death on Saturday morning of Goulburn bike riding pioneer Con Toparis has shocked the cycling communities of Goulburn, Canberra and further afield.

Taking an opportunity for a ride after serving other cyclists coffee at his cafe earlier that morning, Con was travelling south on Crookwell Road, Goulburn.

Police said the 57-year-old collided with a motorbike rider and his female passenger. The rider and passenger were uninjured. Con died at the scene before the ambulance arrived.

Long-standing Goulburn Cycle Club president Adam Lambert, who last spoke to Con on Thursday night, said members had returned to the Greengrocer Cycling and Cafe after a ride on Saturday to hear of the tragedy.

“It seems almost ridiculous a motorbike rider hits a pushbike rider,” Adam said.

“Motorbike riders, like pushbike riders, are generally hypervigilant on the road because they are the softer target. Clearly, it was something horrendously unfortunate.”

Adam had known Con for many years and said he was one of the most passionate cyclists when it came to bicycle safety.

“The irony of that just stinks. He taught bicycle safety. He was not beyond chipping anyone who did something wrong or put themselves in harm’s way.”

Fellow cyclist Chris Berry said Con had started bunch rides from the Greengrocer years ago and sponsored elite riders from Goulburn.

“If people strayed off line, he would be on to them,” Chris said.

“He was instrumental in getting people to join a club and learn how to race and how to be a better rider.”

Adam said Con was a cycling force who, about 20 years ago, put a bike shop in a cafe/greengrocer shop.

“It was quite a bold move back then,” Adam said.

“It solidified the Goulburn cycling community, in particular, and the general community into a larger one. The Greengrocer gave us a port of call, a place to meet and that developed a much deeper community that turned essentially into a family.”

He said The Greengrocer Cycling and Cafe built a national cycling profile.

“I would travel, meet a bunch of cyclists and mention I was from Goulburn, and almost always the next statement was, ‘Oh yeah, the Greengrocer Cafe’,” Adam said.

“There was a time when Con would have been one of the largest bike dealers in the country. People travelled from everywhere to buy bikes there. The fame was not due to the small numbers of Goulburn cyclists, it was the much larger cycling community. People travelled a long distance to come and buy bikes there.”

The Lambert family almost religiously bought pizzas from the Greengrocer every Thursday night. Last Thursday, Con came over to Adam to again talk about his sons.

Con’s youngest son, 15-year-old Costa, an Australian karting champion, is overseas preparing for his full-season European racing debut.

“They have spent the last few years travelling the karting circuit. Costa is pretty much-winning anything he can put his hands to with the driving passion to get to where he is today,” Adam said.

“The love Con had for his two boys, Eli (Elias) and Costa was incomparable, in my opinion. He was a dedicated family man, and the Greengrocer changed the Goulburn cycling landscape forever.

“Con’s wife Lana is overseas with Costa,” he added.

So devastated by the unexpected news, Adams said he has made sure he has told as many of those closest to him he loved them in the last 24 hours.

“Unfortunately, the cycling club has had its share of sudden tragedies: the loss of Neville Smith, Michael Navybox, Jarrod Coveney, now Con Toparis,” he said.

“It is sort of – if you were suspicious – you would call it a curse, but it is just life. It just shows how suddenly things can change.”

He said the club would organise a ride or event to remember Con.

“At the moment, everyone is a little bit shell-shocked.”


Big :- (
Always seems worse when you can put a face and personality to a name - kinda made the call years ago to just stop the long distance commuting and then a bit later to do more off tar biking but never really thought a motor bike would take out a bike rider on what really is a good and I thought safe (apart from having lots of snakes on it) bit of road.
Cycling experience means so very little now - Take it easy out and about

[Mr Purple]

Rest in peace.

I wish the reporters would neaten up their language 'collided with a motorbike rider and his female passenger'. Always sounds like they're blaming the victim.

[jasonc]

“It is sort of – if you were suspicious – you would call it a curse, but it is just life. It just shows how suddenly things can change.”

Not suspicious at all. Just lack of care, lack of responsibility, from people and the government to make things better

[jasonc]

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision between a truck and a cyclist in Mount Waverley this morning.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or with dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

https://www.9news.com.au/national/mount ... 91ef086f13

A cyclist has died after colliding with a truck at an intersection in Melbourne's south-east.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Waverley Road and Stephensons Road in Glen Waverley about 6.40am.
Paramedics treated the male cyclist at the scene but he could not be revived.
The truck driver stopped at the scene and is speaking with police.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or with dashcam footage is asked to contact police.

[uart]

https://www.9news.com.au/national/mount ... 91ef086f13
A cyclist has died after colliding with a truck at an intersection in Melbourne's south-east.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Waverley Road and Stephensons Road in Glen Waverley about 6.40am.

That truck looks to be well onto the wrong side of the road there. It's gone well over into the right turning lane for oncoming traffic.

Map of the intersection is here.: https://bit.ly/3La0T7w
Cyclist appears to have been on Stephenson Rd facing north, and positioned for a right hand turn into Waverly Rd. Truck going the other direction (either heading south on Stephenson, or east on Waverly and turning right into Stephenson) seems to have gone well onto the wrong side of the road to collect him.

[MichaelB]

Hard to determine what actually happens from one pic.

Either way, a tragedy, and only somewhat positive note is driver stopped rather than scarpered

[Thoglette]

Greenfields: Cyclist killed in crash with ute on Lakes Road
David Johns
PerthNow
March 22, 2023 6:26AM(Perth now)

Police are investigating a crash that killed a 51-year-old cyclist after his bike collided with a ute.

The cyclist was travelling north along Lakes Road in Greenfields, near Mandurah, at 5.10pm on Tuesday.

A silver Holden utility being driven by a 22-year-old man was heading south along the same road at the time.

[AdelaidePeter]

A cyclist, who was critically injured in a solo crash going downhill on Flagstaff Hill Road (in Adelaide's southern suburbs) on March 22, has sadly died. https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police- ... darlington

There has been a lot of chatter on social media about how unsafe this piece of infrastructure is. There is even a story in the local Murdoch rag ('A 57-year-old rider has died in hospital after crashing on a segment of a bike track labelled a “death trap” by fellow riders'), but it is paywalled.

[MichaelB]

A cyclist, who was critically injured in a solo crash going downhill on Flagstaff Hill Road (in Adelaide's southern suburbs) on March 22, has sadly died. https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police- ... darlington

There has been a lot of chatter on social media about how unsafe this piece of infrastructure is. There is even a story in the local Murdoch rag ('A 57-year-old rider has died in hospital after crashing on a segment of a bike track labelled a “death trap” by fellow riders'), but it is paywalled.

Whilst I’ve ridden down Flagstaff Hill Rd (when it also used to be known as Education Rd) and yes it’s steep as, but not sure why they’ve deemed it unsafe apart from steep ??

[AdelaidePeter]

A cyclist, who was critically injured in a solo crash going downhill on Flagstaff Hill Road (in Adelaide's southern suburbs) on March 22, has sadly died. https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police- ... darlington

There has been a lot of chatter on social media about how unsafe this piece of infrastructure is. There is even a story in the local Murdoch rag ('A 57-year-old rider has died in hospital after crashing on a segment of a bike track labelled a “death trap” by fellow riders'), but it is paywalled.

Whilst I’ve ridden down Flagstaff Hill Rd (when it also used to be known as Education Rd) and yes it’s steep as, but not sure why they’ve deemed it unsafe apart from steep ??

If you haven't done it for a while, they are talking about a separated bike lane which was added for the bottom 200 metres or so on the downhill stretch towards South Road, which they did at the same time as they widened Flagstaff Hill Road. I have driven that road many times (though only a couple of times since the upgrade) but never ridden it. Complaints about that separated lane include too narrow, debris on it from poor drainage, and too easy to hit the concrete barrier or sign as you enter it.

[jasonc]

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2023/0 ... sh-hendra/

Police are investigating after a male cyclist died following a collision with a truck at Hendra earlier this morning.

Around 7.45am the cyclist was heading south along Nudgee Road when he collided with a heavy rigid truck near the intersection with Long Street.

The 53-year-old cyclist from Nudgee was thrown onto the roadway and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The 48-year-old male driver of the truck was not injured in the crash.

Forensic Crash Unit officers will conduct investigations into the collision and are appealing for any witnesses or dashcam.

[redsonic]

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2023/0 ... sh-hendra/

Police are investigating after a male cyclist died following a collision with a truck at Hendra earlier this morning.

Around 7.45am the cyclist was heading south along Nudgee Road when he collided with a heavy rigid truck near the intersection with Long Street.

The 53-year-old cyclist from Nudgee was thrown onto the roadway and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The 48-year-old male driver of the truck was not injured in the crash.

Forensic Crash Unit officers will conduct investigations into the collision and are appealing for any witnesses or dashcam.

They announced the collision over the radio while I was driving. Said the forensic crash investigation unit was attending, so I figured it didn't sound good. RIP poor fellow.